Although most commonly thought of as a toy for young troublemakers (see Dennis the Menace) the slingshot can also be a useful survival and hunting tool in the right hands. And the Pocket Shot, an unorthodox but compact and highly portable take on the slingshot, is easy to keep on hand whether you're heading out for some camping, or just out to cause trouble in your neighborhood.

Instead of an elastic band attached to a fork made of wood or metal, the $25 (£17) Pocket Shot uses a stretchy rubber cone that's connected to a plastic ring. You place your ammo inside the cone, which could even be hunting arrows with a whisker biscuit accessory, stretch it out as far as your arms will allow, and let it fly.

Depending on the amount of power you need, or how strong your arms are, you can also buy pro versions of those stretchy cones made of a latex formula that's able to fire projectiles at speeds of up to 350 feet per second. So it's no wonder the Pocket Shot site only sells them to those 18 years and older with warnings reminding customers that despite how fun it looks, the Pocket Shot actually probably shouldn't be considered a toy. [The Pocket Shot via Coolest Gadgets]

This article originally appeared on Toyland, Gizmodo's toys and collectibles blog